Indianapolis Colts re-sign DE Josh Thomas; release RB Walter Mendenhall

On August 18, 2009, In General, By John Oehser

The Indianapolis Colts have re-signed DE Josh Thomas.

Thomas, who originally signed with the Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2004, played with Colts from 2004-2008, re-signing a one-year deal last offseason. He again became an unrestricted free agent after last season, but went unsigned throughout the offseason.

“Obviously, it was a different kind of offseason,” Thomas said. “I wasn’t sure I was going to get the call. It was great. I didn’t really want to go anywhere else.”

The Colts called Monday, Thomas said.

“They said, ‘Do you want to play for the Colts?”’ Thomas said.

“Sure,” he replied.

Thomas added, “I was like, ‘Well, I’ve been watching a lot of TV lately . . . I don’t know.”’

Thomas, who played mostly a reserve role behind college teammate Dwight Freeney during his first five Colts seasons, said that likely will be his role again.

“Right now, I expect to be competing for a job and if I get the job — same role,” Thomas said. “It’s kind of what I am. And that’s good.”

Thomas, who played collegiately at Syrcause, has started 12 games for the Colts with six career sacks.

“He always has been a solid performer for us,” Colts Head Coach Jim Caldwell said. “He’s a guy who is versatile. He has a real good sense of what we do from a defensive standpoint. It won’t take him very long to get up to speed with what we’re doing. He kept himself in great shape as well. He’s high energy and high-effort type of guy.”

Thomas said he believes he may play against Philadelphia Thursday.

The team released RB Walter Mendenhall.

“You fit right in, but your feet are a little heavy,” he said of Tuesday morning’s practice. “You’re a little gassed. You have to learn a little more, but as far as what you have to do, it’s the same stuff.”

Of returning a day before the end of training camp, Thomas said with a smile, “Everyone was like, ‘Oh, you held out.’ I was trying to get one more day.”

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Hey, Oehser: On the Indianapolis Colts’ defensive tackle, defensive end and safety positions

On May 7, 2009, In General, By John Oehser

Indy Football Report Editor John Oehser answers the questions of Indianapolis Colts fans (and anyone else who emails him at IFROehser@aol.com) . . .

Hey, Oehser . . .

I really enjoy your IFR blog. Glad to have an insightful, daily Colts column with expert opinion and analysis. I have a few questions, and would appreciate your thoughts.

Thanks,

Jason

1) In our move to get larger along the defensive front, do you think Keyunta Dawson or Eric Foster might shift to play some downs at DE this year?

Oehser: I am answering this late Wednesday evening, and because I thought at first your question began, “In a move to get lager,” I made just such a move. I have now returned from the basement and will focus on your question. I think the possibility of Dawson playing some end makes sense. He was drafted there. Foster’s more of a true tackle and I’d be surprised if he moved outside much. With Ed Johnson back, I figure he and the two rookies play extensively, with Foster also being in the rotation. That’s a first guess, but the defensive tackle rotation will be intriguing and the possibility of some of those guys moving outside at times is something about which I want to ask some time.

2) I believe safety is one of our deepest positions on defense. How many safeties do you anticipate we keep on our active roster this year?

Oehser: Couldn’t agree more. The Colts’ safety situation is not only a major team strength, but they have one of the league’s best situations at the position. Bob Sanders and Antoine Bethea are locks, as is Melvin Bullitt, who could play for just about any team in the NFL and start for some. The re-signing of Giordano gets you to four very solid safeties, and the Colts really like Jamie Silva, a second-year veteran from Boston College. Giordano and Silva likely will be key special teams guys. That’s five, and that’s probably it, although Brannon Condren will get a look because he’s a solid special teams guy.

 3) Who do you anticipate to backfill the role played by Josh Thomas at defensive end last year?

Oehser: There’s not really a player on the roster to take that run-stuffing, defensive end role and that’s why I was a little surprised the Colts didn’t bring Thomas back. With the Colts substantially deeper at tackle now than they were last season, veteran end Raheem Brock likely won’t have to play inside much if at all next season. He’s a quality player against the run, so in a sense he may fill some of that role. Aside from that, Dwight Freeney, Robert Mathis, Marcus Howard and Curtis Johnson are all pass-rusher types in pretty much the same vein.

 

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Rhodes, Thomas to test free agency

On February 26, 2009, In General, By John Oehser

The Colts’ free-agency situation became a bit clearer Thursday.

Reserve running back Dominic Rhodes and reserve defensive end Josh Thomas will be allowed to test the free-agent market, their respective agents told news agencies Thursday afternoon. The NFL’s free agency period will begin Friday at 12:01 p.m.

Rhodes, who spent 2001-2006 and 2008 with the Colts, was the team’s second-leading rusher a year ago. His agent, Todd France, told the Indianapolis Star the the Colts don’t plan to offer a deal before free agency begins Friday at 12:01 a.m.

Here’s a link to the Star’s story:

http://www.indystar.com/article/20090226/SPORTS03/90226038/1100

Thomas, who has been a reliable reserve end since signing as a rookie free agent, also will be allowed to test free agency. His agent, Craig Domann told the Associated Press of the decision.

Here’s the link to the AP story about Thomas:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5jFsK7UJYJlNKzQE5D9PBAfd1Rq6A

That means the following players will be allowed to test free agency: Rhodes, Thomas and punter Hunter Smith, whose agent told the Indianapolis Star of that decision by the Colts last week. Colts President Bill Polian said on Tuesday the Colts will continue to work this week to reach a deal to retain three-time Pro Bowl center Jeff Saturday, who also is scheduled to become a free agent.

The team officially released eight-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Marvin Harrison on Wednesday.

The AP also reported that the team has extended one-year tender offers to defensive tackle Dan Muir and running back Lance Ball.

Other Colts players who remain unsigned entering free agency include:

Linebackers Tyjuan Hagler and Freddy Keiaho, cornerback Keiwan Ratliff, safety Matt Giordano, and offensive lineman Dan Federkeil. Over the past two seasons, all of the aforementioned have started at least one game, with Keiaho and Hagler each starting extensively.

They offered one-year contracts to defensive tackle Daniel Muir and running back Lance Ball, who are both restricted free agents.

Agent Anthony Paige confirmed the tender offers Thursday in an e-mail to The Associated Press.

Of the Colts’ news as of around 5 p.m. Thursday, the most noteworthy is the team’s decison to allow Rhodes to test free agency. I’ll include a link to a story I wrote for Examiner.com:

http://www.examiner.com/x-4450-Indianapolis-Colts-Examiner~y2009m2d26-Rhodes-will-be-latest-Colts-player-to-test-free-agency

As I wrote for the Examiner, while Rhodes’ statistics haven’t been overwhelming, he has mattered very much to the Colts during his career. He russhed for more than 1,000 yards as a rookie, and after missing 2002 with a knee injury, he was a solid backup for thre more seasons before moving into the starting role in 2006.

He rushed for more than 600 yards that season, and when the Colts moved Joseph Addai into the starting lineup that postseason, Rhodes didn’t pout. He played a key role in the Colts’ 15-6 victory in a Divisional Playoff game over the Baltimore Ravens and probably could have been the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XLI, in which he rushed for 113 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries in a 29-17 victory over the Chicago Bears.

He tested free agency shortly after the Super Bowl, and although he spent 2007 with the Oakland Raiders, he talked often this past season of how happy he was to have returned to the Colts. The Colts were home, he often said, and you got a feeling he never really wanted to play anywhere else.

But now it seems he will have to play somewhere else again to continue his career, and I don’t doubt he will. Rarely in a decade and a half covering the NFL have I met a guy who truly enjoys the game as much as Rhodes. I don’t like writing that a guy would have played for free, because there ain’t nobody in the NFL anymore who’s not about the money, but I come closer to thinking Rhodes would have played for nothing than I do most other players.

If the Colts don’t decide to pursue Rhodes for a third stint with the Colts, I hope he finds a new NFL home and plays as long as his body will allow.

And I hope the guy’s happy wherever that home maybe.

But I’m pretty sure wherever that home may be, he won’t like it nearly as much as his old one.

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